A year ago, the Tea Party movement didn’t exist. Today, this angry group of right wing activists, with unrivaled popularity, represents the most dynamic force in the North American political scene, though it stays in periphery of establishment and lacks both of a strong leader and a clear political agenda. And it is trying to gain a role in the traditional U.S. two-party system. The representatives of this anti-Obama machinery, named after the Boston Tea Party of 1773, have just ended a long tour in Washington, which has taken them and their gospel to nearly 50 cities around the country.
Minimizing the government, diminishing its interference in the life of the citizens and demanding that elected offical bear fiscal responsibility seem to be the main points of this ideology so far. Whatever the origins of these followers of Sarah Palin, it would be a huge mistake to see them only as a folk movement, since they share, more or less explicitly, a large part of the principles many Americans defend. It would also be a mistake to think of the Tea Party as a mere fringe of the Republican Party, although most people who identify with it are Republicans, and are generally white, middle-aged men. A recent poll from the "New York Times" about Tea Party supporters reveals that their education level is on average higher than that of the general public, they are generally in the higher economic bracket and and are deeply pessimistic about the future of the country. It makes political sense to them that Barack Obama is the perfect target for their anger. Beyond the cliché of accusing Obama of being a Communist and a Muslim, for conservatives whose priorities are the individual rights and little government intereference, Obama is, because of his liberal ideology and focus on reform, the one to bring down.
The Tea Party, which held its very first convention only a couple of months ago, has been showing a unique ability to adapt and grow. It’s still premature to speculate as to whether it will become Sarah Palin’s launch pad for the 2012 presidential elections, but what we can certainly foresee is that its popularity could divide the Republican vote in the November mid-term elections. The GOP is faced with a huge dilemma: Which is more dangerous — allying with the Tea Party supporters or opposing them?
Hace un año, el movimiento Tea Party no existía. Hoy, este airado conglomerado de activistas de derecha, de bases inequívocamente populares, representa la fuerza más dinámica de la política estadounidense, aunque se mueva en la periferia del establishment y carezca de líder o programa claro. Y se plantea hacerse un hueco en el tradicional bipartidismo de Estados Unidos. Los representantes de esta maquinaria anti-Obama, que toman su nombre del Motín del Té de Boston, en 1773, acaban de cerrar en Washington una larga gira que ha llevado su evangelio por casi medio centenar de ciudades.
Lo fundamental de este ideario por el momento es jibarizar el papel del Estado y su intromisión en la vida de los ciudadanos y exigir a ultranza responsabilidad fiscal a los administradores públicos. Sea cual fuere la evolución de estos devotos de Sarah Palin, sería un craso error convertir en mero folclor el papel de un movimiento cuyo credo comparte de manera más o menos explícita una buena parte del electorado estadounidense. Como lo es asimilar el Tea Party a una mera excrecencia del Partido Republicano, aunque republicanos sean -además de blancos, hombres y de mediana edad- la mayoría de quienes se identifican con él. Una reciente encuesta de The New York Times sobre sus simpatizantes informa, además, de que su educación es superior a la media, no tienen dificultades económicas y son profundamente pesimistas sobre la dirección del país. Que hayan encontrado en Barack Obama el blanco perfecto de sus iras es sólo lógica política. Más allá del ramplón cliché del presidente musulmán y comunista, para unos conservadores que entronizan los derechos individuales y sienten alergia hacia el Estado, Obama es, por su talante liberal y sus reformas intervencionistas, el personaje a batir.
El Tea Party, que sólo hace un par de meses celebró su primera convención, viene demostrando una singular capacidad de adaptación y crecimiento. Es prematuro aventurar si puede convertirse en plataforma de lanzamiento para Palin en las presidenciales de 2012, pero no lo es pensar que su popularidad puede fracturar el esperanzado voto republicano en las elecciones legislativas de noviembre. El viejo gran partido tiene ante sí el dilema de qué puede resultar más peligroso en las urnas para recapturar el Congreso: si flirtear con los teapartistas o si tenerlos enfrente.
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It is doubtful that the Trump administration faces a greater danger than that of dealing with the Jeffrey Epstein files, because this is a danger that grew from within.
Thank you for an interesting article. It is very sad indeed when a government that is supposed to represent the people opposes them at every turn, and wonders why people become active.
Thank you for an interesting article. It is very sad indeed when a government that is supposed to represent the people opposes them at every turn, and wonders why people become active.
Best regards,
Gail S
http://backyardfence.wordpress.com